Jet-type burner for tobacco curers



Nov. 16, 1 H. A. OLDENKAMP JET-TYPE BURNER FOR TOBACCO CURERS Filed March 17, 1951 INVENTOR HENRY A. OLDENKAMP 44w ATTORNEY United States Patent JET-TYPE BURNER FOR TOBACCO CURERS Henry A. Oldenkamp, Valhalla, N. Y., assignor to American Machine and Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application March 17, 1951, Serial No. 216,180

Claims. (Cl. 158-28) This invention relates to jet type burners and more particularly to improvements in the type of burner shown in my copending application Serial Number 179,710 filed gugtllgts 116, 1950, now Patent No. 2,673,726, dated March It has been found that a burner such as is disclosed in the above named application has a number of critical adjustments which must be accurately set. Any deviation from such a setting may result in incomplete combustion and as a consequence there may be accumulation of carbon in the burner which ultimately has a further deleterious effect on the combustion. Such incomplete combustion is objectionable in many cases because the incompletely combusted gases have a deleterious effect on the product being processed such as tobacco undergoing curing. It has also been noted that inexperienced individuals sometimes seek to make corrections to a jet type burner to overcome deficiencies which they may have thought existed, not realizing that the adjustments are extremely critical. As a result burners which were operating satisfactorily have been rendered unsatisfactory. In manufacturing and shipping burners of this type, it is also desirable to eliminate features of a burner which can be a source of trouble because of the burner being incorrectly assembled and adjusted.

It is an object of this invention to provide a burner of such construction that the adjustments are not readily interfered with, particularly those which are critical and which if not accurately maintained will cause fuel to be incompletely combusted.

A further object of this invention is to improve the design of the burner so as to eliminate contours and pockets which might tend to accumulate carbon and soot and cause undesirable turbulences in the combustion chamber.

A further object of this invention is to provide a nozzle holder with a support which will automatically locate the nozzle in the correct position for complete combustion.

Another object is to provide a jet type burner which will be of relatively simple design and which can be adapted for mass production.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses. In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, like characters of reference have been applied to corresponding parts throughout the several views which make up the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view of the improved burner assembly,

Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation of the same taken on line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is another sectional end elevation taken on line 33 of Figure 1,

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of the entire burner unit.

The apparatus I have employed to illustrate this invention consists of a combustion chamber made up of a cup-shaped cap 10, and a cylinder 12. The combustion chamber is surrounded by an outer conical shell 14 which in this illustration consists of two half shell sections 16 and 18 which make up the nose of the burner. The half shell sections 16 and 18 are made of special non-corroding and heat resisting material to prevent warping and facilitates having a smooth flowing air stream. The outer shell 14 is attached to and forms the nose of a suitably shaped duct 17 projecting from the fan housing 19 of the burner unit illustrated in Fig. 4. Duct 17, like outer shell 14, consists of two half shells held together in a manner similar to that of the outer shell 14. Since duct 17 is not exposed to intense heat ordinary sheet metal may be used for its construction.

A pair of wide fins 20 and 22 and a pair of smaller positioning fins 24 and 26 are secured to the combustion cylinder 12.

The free sides of the wide supporting fins 20 and 22 project into and are secured in the seams of the outer conical shell which is made in two half sections 16 and 18. The smaller positioning fins 24 and 26 contact the inner conical surface of outer shell 14 and serve as w a guide to assure the correct spacing between the latter and the combustion cylinder 12. These specific distances are explained in detail in copending application S. N.

179,710 referred to above.

The fins 20, 22, 24 and 26 have short legs 28, 30, 32 and 34 which project beyond and around the end of the combustion cylinder 12. These legs 28, 30, 32 and 34 aresecured to the sides of the cup shaped cap, preferably by welding or the use of hard solder so as to provide a minimum of interference with air entering between the annular opening between the cup shaped cap and the combustion cylinder 12. It will thus be seen that I have provided a means for rigidly securing the cup shaped cap 10 and the combustion cylinder 12 so that the spacing between the two units is fixed and cannot be disturbed. It will be noted that this is one of the critical portions of the jet burner and applicant has found that his present structure has enabled this critical spacing to be maintained so that the annular opening between these two elements is uniform around the entire circumference. The outer edges of the fins 20 and 22 are secured in suitable oflT-set portions formed in the flanges 36 and 38 .of the shell sections 16 and 18 of the shell 14 by suitable means such as spot welding or by bolts or rivets.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a simple means for accurately mounting the combustion cylinder 12, the outer conical half shells 16 and 18, and the cup shaped cap 10 so that the critical spacings between these units are correctly made during assembly and cannot be readily disturbed in the field or in the process of shipping. It will further be noted that I have not interposed any support in the annular opening which it has been found will interfere with a uniform continuous ribbon of air being discharged through the annular openings. Any interference with a continuous ribbon or stream of air such as is obtained in the present apparatus tends to permit carbon to accumulate on different portions of the combustion chamber. In other words I have found that the combustion chamber remains carbon free if the correct amount of air is introduced in the proper manner so that what appears to be a washing effect is obtained on that portion of the combustion chamber which might otherwise tend to accumulate carbon.

The cup shaped cap 10 has a circular opening 40 formed in the center of its bottom portion. The spinner plate 42 is a stationary deflector provided with radial louvers 44 and holes 46 formed near the inner edge of said louvers 44 to impart spinning motion to fluids passing over it. Attached to the spinner plate 42 are three positioning brackets 48, 50 and 52. Each bracket has a spacing leg 55 which spaces the spinner plate the correct distance from the bottom of the cup shaped cap 10. Each leg has a short little lug 54, 56 and 58 which fits into a corresponding hole formed in the spinner plate 42 as shown in Fig. 2. The lug is flush with the upper face of the spinner plate and may be held in position either by clinching or staking the end of the lugs 54, 56 and 58 when the lugs have been properly positioned in their respective holes in the spinner plate 42. It is also possible to employ welding or a hard solder for maintaining the lugs 54, 56 and 58 securely attached to their respective holes formed in the spinner plate 42. The outside edges of the supporting brackets 48, 50 and 52 are designed to fit snugly into the hole 40 formed in the cap 10 to thereby center the spinning plate 42 with res ect to the center pening 40 formed in the cap 10.

The brackets 48, 50 and 52 are secured to the cup .shaped cap 10 by tack welding or other suitable means.

A short tube 60 fits snugly in between the inside edges of the brackets 48, 50 and 52and is mountedflush wit-hthe bottom portion of the cup shaped cap 10. It is held in this position by tack welding the brackets 48, 50 and 52 to the tube60.

A nozzle;consisting1of a stem=.62,.- andtasprayzhead a1;

64 is inserted inside of the .tube.. 60 to a position'where;.-

the nozzle head is spaced fromntheedge of. the center:=.

hole 66 formed in the spinnerplate 42 a distance .of ,4 of an inch-with a tolerance..of approximately. P1115101 minus .005 of an inch. It hasbeen fouudcthatvthisspace-.1. ing permits the right amount of air to enter between the nozzle head 64 and the opening66of the spinner-.plateu 42 so that thereis noaccumulation of .carbon on the insideof the combustioncylinder 12.v

The tube 60 has a slot .68 formed. at one .endxand a conventional clamp .70 is tightened by means. of screw.

72 when the nozzle stem 62 has been inserted intothe tube 60 to the positiondesired. .Stem 62 is also provided.

with a threaded coupling 74 which engages with a conventional fitting 76, thus connecting the oil pressure line '78 to .the coupling 74 and stem 62 which permits the oil to be delivered to the nozzle head 64.

I have shaped my cup-shaped cap 10 so that a. curved contour is formed wherethe Visai flame tube 80 .is' connected to the cap so as to avoid the creation of unnecessary turbulences within the combustion. chamber .and

sharp edges have been avoided. A spark plug holder 86 is secured to the cap 10 by meansof a conventional screw clamp 88. The spark plugholderx86 is.formed with elongatedslots or openings 90 which permit airto enteradjacent this point. The electrodes92 and 94 of the spark plug 96 project inside of the combustion chamher to a distance where theyareadjacent the fringe of the oil spray.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an improved structural arrangement for my jet tobacco curing burner which. embodies all of the desirable features of my formerapplication and at the same time has provided supports for three of the main principal elements of my invention, namely, the outer conical half shells 16 and 18, the cylindrical combustion chamber 12 and the cup shaped cap 10 which permit quick and accurate assembly of parts and also provides for the necessary .sturdiness to provide satisfactory service in the field. For further information with respect to the distance said elements are spaced from oneanother, reference may be made to the application herein before referred to.

The spinner plate 42 has a cut away portion 98 which it has been found allows sufiicient air to pass by the spark plugs without detracting from the completeness of the fuel combustion. A specialcut away portion is formed in that portion of the spinner plate which is immediately adjacent the electrodesof the spark plug.:

It was found that carbon had atendency to'accumulate on the electrodes 92 and 94 of the sparkplug in the burner as originally designed. Various efforts .weremade to correct this deficiency such.as changing the length:of

the electrodes, forming holesin the spark: plug; and

changing the location .of the sparkplug. While'these efforts had some success, I found that by cutting away a portion of the spinner plate 42 in the manner shown in Fig. 3, the accumulation of carbon on the spark plug was avoided. This is believed to have produced the desired turbulence of air so as to prevent carbon from having an opportunity to accumulate.

I have found that the burner herein works very well when fuel oil is fed into the burner at the rate of approximately two and a half gallons .per hour, and air is forced into the burner at the rate: of 100 to 125 cubic feet per minute. these amounts and I have found that the "burner will also operate with an air flow of to l50-cubic feet of air per minute.

The invention above described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustrate the'invention is but one of many possible embodiments of the same. The in- It is of course possible to deviatefrom having perforationspand :llouvers formed tioneduinwardlygof said circular opening, brackets fixedly attached to said spinner plate extending through the-m openingformedain said cup shaped cap for spacing said. spinner plate av predetermineddistance from said opening and being secured to said cupshapedcap, a nozzle a supporting, tubefixedly secured between said brackets,

What is claimed is:

1. In a jet'burner an outer-airconducting-shell made" in two longitudinal half-sections, an inner cylindrical combustion chamber shell and a-cup having its open end shaped cap extending into one end of and of smaller diameter than the combustion chamber shell, spacing fins secured to the outside circumferenceaof said inner combustion chamber shell,, a leg formed on each of said fins and spaced-from said cylindrical combustion'chamber shell for spacing saidcup shaped cap from said combustion chamber. shell without interfering with the continu-...

ous annular'flow of air through the opening between said cap and chamber, longitudinal outwardly extending flanges formed at the edges of the outer shell sections where said sections are joined together, off-set portions formed in said flanges for..receivingthe outer edges of said fins, and means for fixedly securing said flanges and outer edges together.

2. In a. jet burner,:an outershell, an inner cylindrical combustion chamber-shell, andacup shaped cap having a concentric-circular. air inlet .openingformedin the v closedend l thereof'iand. having the .openend .extending into one end of and of smaller diameter than the com-..- bustion, chamber .shell,.a spinnertplate. having perforae tions and :louvers ;formed1therein,.L shaped supporting brackets-supporting saidispinner plate at a distance from.

said circular opening, the feet:of saidbrackets. being vattachedto and-spacing theyspinner plate from the inside of the cap and the legs of said brackets. extending through said opening, a nozzle supporting tube. connected to the inside. of said legs, a nozzle. stem adaptedto fit insideof. saidtube land-a clampfor holding said vnozzle.

secure to the inside of said tube..

spark plug connected. to the other .of saidholes, and a spinner plate spacedinwardly from and centeredover the central hole formed in said .cup shaped.cap,.said spinner plate. having a cut-away portion adjacent to the position of the spark plug to causeincomingair from said air ,inlet hole to streampast the. electrodes of.the

sparkplug.

4 A jet type burner of the type having an outer shell, aninner shell spaced from the outer shell,-a cup shaped cap spacedfrom and positioned at one end of saidinner shell, saidcupshaped cap having its openend extending into one end of and being of smaller diameter than the inner shell, said cup shaped cap having a circular air inlet opening-formed in the center thereof, a spinner plate therein .posia nozzle, a clamp for fixedly holding said nozzle in said tube, openingsaformedin said cup shaped cap adjacent said circular opening,.a spark plug mounted in one of said ad acent openings; and .a flame detector mounted in EiIlOthBPrOf said-adjacent openings,-|the cap surfaces immediately adjacent the spark plug and flame detectoropeningsbeing smoothandrounded to obtain a smooth flow of air from said air inlet opening and across the surface of the cup shaped cap..

5. In a jet burner, an outer shell,-an inner combus tion cylinder and a cup shaped cap having its open end mounted in one end of said inner combustion cylinder, said cup shaped member having-acircular air inlet open- I ing formedin the center thereof, a spinner plate'having perforations. and lowers formed therein positioned inwardly of said circular opening, a spark plug extending throughsaid cup shaped cap at one side of said spinner plate, said spinner plate having a portion'of its circumference adjacent the spark plug cut-away, brackets fixedly secured to saidspinner platelextending through i the opening formed in said cupshaped cap for spacing vention, therefore, is not to be restricted-to the precise details of the structure shown and described.-

said spinner plate a predetermined distance; from said opening, a weld fixedly securing each of said brackets -to I said cupshaped cap, a nozzle supporting'tube fixedly'secured between said brackets, a nozzle, and a clamp for Number fixedly holding said nozzle in said tube. 2,422,213 2,434,924 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,446,059 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 ggfigg Number Name Date 2,547,619 2,016,921 Goddard Oct. 8, 1935 2,553,091 2,404,335 Whittle July 16, 1946 6 Name Date Smith June 17, 1947 Hamilton Jan. 27, 1948 Peterson et a1. July 27, 1948 McCollum Nov. 29, 1949 Mayers et a1 Feb. 13, 1951 Buckland Apr. 3, 1951 Homing May 15, 1951 

